Who's Up for a CHALLENGE??

Yes, it's National Emergency Preparedness Month!  And if you've been paying attention to sites like  READY.gov, then you'll know that there's a LOT going on to help you get prepared for any disaster that comes your way!

To celebrate along with everyone else, we'll be having a 'mock' emergency run sometime this month! Yep, it's a surprise -- aren't most emergencies?  I'll give you a scenario in which you'll need to use your emergency supply kits.  You decide to what lengths you take to see if you're prepared (some people might want to take inventory of the supplies they'll need; the brave ones will take their emergency kits on an overnighter and put their supplies to the test to find out what they REALLY need!)  When it's all said and done, I'd love to hear from anyone who participated what worked and what didn't.

SO -- WHO'S WITH ME??? (yes, I'll be doing this too!)  By the way, this weekend might be a good time to take out and review what you have and what you need.

August

Getting a slow start this month with school starting up again, but we'll be focusing on emergency/survival kits over the next few weeks.  Just in time for September's National Preparedness Month when you'll get the chance to put your preparedness to the test!


I'm really excited because I just received my Goal Zero Nomad 7 solar-powered USB and 12V DC charging ports (I won't mention that I got it for FREE!)

I'm not a big proponent of bringing electronics with me out in the wild (though quite frankly, having a means of  communication can be a lifesaver).  But with all of our dependence on technology today, it seems impossible to avoid.  If you're without electricity for more than a few days though, those electronics are useless.  Enter the 13 oz foldable portable solar panels! With a USB and 12V DC charging port (includes 12V female cigarette adapter) it's perfect for charging cell phones, mp3 players, cameras, etc.  Or hook up this battery pack to charge AA & AAA batteries!   I can't wait to try mine out!

In the meantime, watch this video!  And tell me if you get excited about it too!

Baby Steps!

Let's face it.  We all have good intentions of getting prepared for emergencies and starting -- or finishing -- our food storage.  But when it comes down to it, life gets in the way and we get side-tracked.  Others might feel overwhelmed by the task and not know where to start entirely.

For those who need that little nudge and some guidance, I'll be posting a monthly goal with weekly "to-do" lists to complete it.  They will be SHORT and EASY.  And I'll be doing them with you.

This is in preparation for National Preparedness Month in September where I'm going to have some really fun and exciting activities for you and your family to participate in to put your preparedness skills to the test! (Did I mention, fun?)

Here's the schedule for the next 3 months: 

• July:  Short-term food storage 

• August:  Emergency Kits 

• September:  How well would you do in an emergency?

Be sure to "like" the facebook page on the right for quick and easy updates

Online Resources

Here are some online resources for emergency information & preparedness:

• FEMA: Plan and Prepare

• Ready.gov:  Prepare, Plan, Stay Informed

• American Red Cross

• Center for Disease Control and Prevention

• National Weather Service

• Arizona Division of Emergency Management

• Emergency Preparedness for KIDS (games & activities)

• Preparedness Resources for teachers & classrooms

• Dept. of Ed: Emergency Planning for Schools

FIRE!

With everything that has been transpiring the last few months in the weather and around the world, I can't help but think about what might have been going through the minds of people as they were experiencing their disaster.  I wonder what I would have done in their shoes.

My First experience with an emergency (that I can remember), was when I was about 10 years old.  It was a typical fire season -- warm summer day, smoky sky, the smell of burning forest -- but when the ash started falling, we knew it might be a little different.  That afternoon we heard the knock on the door and listened to the man who worked for the Forest Service tell us that we were to evacuate in one hour.

I remember the rush when my parents handed me the basket-woven duffel bag with "mexico" embroidered on it.   They said to pack the things that I couldn't live without.  At age 10 I really didn't have any irreplaceables -- in fact, I think I loaded it with clothes,  a journal and a radio.  But the invaluable lesson I learned as a 10 yr. old was that nothing is permanent.  The things we own can be ripped away from us and all we are left with are the memories and the lessons learned.  Life as I knew it could disappear in the blink of an eye.  This one experience was ingrained in my mind and has been the motive for my interest in wanting to be prepared when disaster strikes.

Now If I were to have one hour to pack, I wonder what I would reach for first?  Thankfully I have the basics (clothes, sanitation, food, first aid, etc.) ready to go so that I could hopefully have an extra moment to grab some sentimental belongings (now copies of those sentimentals are on an external hard drive).   But if not, I know our needs would be met for a few days at least.
 
What would you reach for first?  What could you/couldn't you live without?  Here's a fun challenge:  Find an unused backpack, fill it with what you think you will need to live for 3 days -- then go test it out.  If you already have a 72-hr emergency kit, then what are you waiting for?

Getting Started!!

Being prepared for any emergency or crisis can be overwhelming if you're just getting started -- and when the next crisis or disaster comes, the time for preparedness is over.  If you're not sure where to start or what to do next, pick an item below and focus on it for a week or a month, until you feel adequately prepared in that field.


DO YOU HAVE:

• Home & Vehicle First Aid Kits?
• 3-months worth of income in Savings?
• Credit card, vehicle, and other debt paid off?
• An emergency escape Plan? (from the house, city, etc.)
• A list of Emergency Contact Names & Numbers
• 3-day Emergency Kit (ready to take with you if you have to leave)?
• 3-month Food Supply (shelf food you regularly eat)?
• Long-term Food Supply (6-12 months or more) stored in a cool place?
• Tools and other household items (shovel, garbage bags, bleach, etc.) in the event you can't get to the store.
• 2-weeks worth of water (minimum 1 gal. per person per day)?

DO YOU KNOW:

• Which disasters are likely to occur in your area and how to prepare for them?
• Who your family "contact person" is (in the event of a disaster)?
• Where you will meet family members should you become separated?
• How to treat for Shock? (emotional and physical)
• Basic First Aid?
• How to communicate with out of town Family Members?
• How to protect yourself from the elements (heat/cold)?
• How to prepare food without electricity?

This is just a list to get you started -- feel free to add topics of your own.  I'll be visiting these topics over the next several weeks.